One-step purification of metallothionein extracted from two different sources

We describe a one-step purification of hepatic metallothionein from the Amazon fish Colossoma macropomum injected with cadmium and from the copper-loaded metallothionein from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, performed by affinity chromatography through metal-chelating columns. Yeast metallothionein was purified from Cu2+-loaded resin and eluted by a continuous EDTA gradient whereas hepatic metallothionein extracted from fishes was purified by Ni2+-loaded resin and eluted by a continuous imidazol gradient. Purified metallothioneins were evaluated by SDS-PAGE and characterized by UV spectra of the apo- and Cd2+-loaded protein. This method allowed high purity and yield as well as rapid one-step extraction of both metal-loaded and apoprotein.     

Cysteine-independent polymerization of metallothioneins in solutions and in crystals

Polymerization of metallothioneins is one of the usually encountered puzzles during the research process of metallothioneins' structure and function. Our work focuses on the cysteine independently occurred polymerization from metallothioneins monomers in different milieus, while it leaves out the aggregation caused by the oxidation of cysteine, because the latter circumstance is the result of purification lapsus. After the purification of metallothioneins monomers, a dynamic light-scattering technique is used to detect the polymerized states of rabbit liver metallothionein I and II in different buffers, which is the first systematical detection of polymerized states of metallothioneins in solutions. The effects of different compositions of each buffer are discussed in details. Steric complementarity, hydrophobic, and electrostatic interaction characteristics are studied, following the modeling of monomers and relevant polymers of rat metallothionein II, rabbit liver metallothionein I and II. These theoretical calculations are the first complete computer simulations on different factors affecting metallothioneins' polymerization. A molecular recognition mechanism of metallothioneins' polymerization in solutions is proposed on the bases of experimental results and theoretical calculations. Preliminary X-ray studies of two crystal forms of rabbit liver metallothionein II are compared with the crystal structure of rat metallothionein II, and the polymerized states in crystal packing are discussed with the knowledge of polymerization of metallothioneins in solutions. The hypothesis, which is consistent with theoretical calculations and experimental results, is expected to construct a connection between the biochemical characteristics and physiological functions of metallothioneins, and this research may give some enlightenment to the topics of protein polymerizations.     

The amino acid composition of the zinc-induced metallothionein isoforms in rat brain

Recent investigation from this laboratory has identified in the rat brain a zinc-inducible and actinomycin D-inhibited metallothionein with an elution volume (Ve/Vo) of 2.08 and a molecular weight of smaller than 10,000 daltons. Furthermore, purification of the zinc-induced metallothionein by ion exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex A-25 columns produced two isoforms, eluting, respectively, at 68 and 130 mM of Tris-acetate buffer, pH 7.5. In this paper, we report that zinc-induced metallothionein produces also two distinct isoforms on reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography that exhibit retention times of 17.23 and 18.53 minutes, respectively. Brain metallothionein was characterized further by studies showing that the zinc-induced metallothionein incorporated a large quantity of [³⁵S]cysteine and that isoforms I and II contain 17 and 18 cysteine residues, respectively, while being devoid of any arginine, histidine, leucine, phenylalanine or tyrosine. The precise functions of the brain metallothionein isoforms, which may be related to the transport and homeostasis of essential elements such as zinc and copper, remain to be elucidated.     

水生无脊椎动物金属硫蛋白研究进展

金属硫蛋白在水生无脊椎动物中分布广泛、容易被诱导,在水环境生态响应研究中具有重要意义。对水生无脊椎动物金属硫蛋白分类和特性、MT的诱导及影响因素、基因克隆与表达等方面取得的进展进行概述;并对其金属离子调节功能及其在水环境重金属污染监测、重金属污染生物治理和水产养殖等方面的应用潜力进行展望,提出研究中的不足和今后的研究方向。     

金属螯合亲和层析纯化金属硫蛋白

将二价铜离子螯合在Chelating Sepharose Fast Flow凝胶上制成亲和层析柱,锌诱导兔肝和镉诱导小鼠肝经匀浆、乙醇处理后上柱,用pH4.0的醋酸盐缓冲液平衡,再用pH5.2不同浓度的醋酸盐缓冲液分别洗脱,可得两个金属硫蛋白(MT)洗脱峰,经确定先后为MT-2和MT-1.分离方法比传统的凝胶过滤-离子交换法简单、省时,适于实验室规模分离纯化.     

Gram scale purification and preparation of rabbit liver zinc metallothionein.

A simplified procedure for purifying gram quantities of rabbit liver metallothionein (MT) using gel filtration and anion exchange chromatography is presented. The MT purification made use of anion exchange batch elution chromatography which greatly shortened the procedure. Quantitation techniques for use with crude and purified MT are discussed. This paper also describes the preparation of large amounts of ZnMT from Cd,ZnMT.     

Cadmium-binding component in Escherichia coli during accommodation to low levels of this ion.

An inducible cadmium-binding protein was isolated from Escherichia coli cells accommodated to 3 X 10(-6) M Cd2+ but not from normal or unaccommodated cells. Sephadex G-100, metal chelate affinity chromatography, and disc gel electrophoresis were used in the purification procedure. The molecular weight of the Cd2+-binding protein was estimated to be about 39,000 by Sephadex G-100 chromatography, making it different from the conventional, much smaller metallothionein.     

Expression,purification, and characterization of metallothionein-A from rainbow trout

Recombinant metallothionein A (MT-A) from rainbow trout has been successfully produced in milligram quantities in Escherichia coli. cDNA has been subcloned into pGEX-6P.1 vector, in-frame with a sequence encoding an N-terminal glutathione-S-transferase (GST) tail. Purification to electrophoretic homogeneity has been obtained by affinity chromatography using GSH-Sepharose. After enzymatic cleavage of GST tail, the MT-A moiety shows a molecular weight, corresponding to the expected one (6630 Da). The final yield of the entire expression and purification process was about 5 mg of pure metallothionein per liter of bacterial culture. The effects of different reducing and alkylating agents have been evaluated at the level of the formation of higher molecular weight aggregates. To investigate the metal-binding ability of the recombinant MT-A, we carried out a spectrophotometrical titration with cadmium ions. Finally, we checked the metal dissociation by recording the UV absorbance of the protein as a function of the environmental pH.     

Dogfish metallothionein--II. Electrophoretic studies and comparison with rat metallothionein

A low-molecular weight metal-binding protein has been isolated and characterized as metallothionein in the liver of the dogfish (Scyliorhinus canicula). This protein is present in both male and female animals and both control and cadmium-treated (both water and i.p. administration) animals as revealed by SDS-PAGE studies. Dogfish metallothionein shows the same metal-dependent anomalous behaviour as rat metallothionein in SDS-PAGE. SDS-PAGE is a good method to identify a protein as metallothionein.     

Tandem affinity purification in Drosophila: the advantages of the GS-TAP system

Tandem affinity purification (TAP) has been widely used for the analysis of protein complexes. We investigated the parameters of the recently developed TAP method (GS-TAP) and its application in Drosophila. This new tag combination includes two Protein G modules and a streptavidin binding peptide (SBP), separated by one or two TEV protease cleavage sites. We made pMK33-based GS-TAP vectors to allow for generation of stable cell lines using hygromycin selection and inducible expression from a metallothionein promoter, as well as pUAST-based vectors that can be used for inducible expression in flies. Rescue experiments in flies demonstrated that the GS-TAP tag preserves the function of the tagged protein. We have done parallel purifications of proteins tagged with the new GS-TAP tag or with the conventional TAP tag (containing the Protein A and calmodulin binding peptide domains) at the amino terminus, using both cultured cells and embryos. A major difference between the two tags was in the levels of contaminating proteins, which were significantly lower in the GS-TAP purifications. The GS-TAP procedure also resulted in higher yield of the bait protein. Overall, GS-TAP is an improved method of protein complex purification because it provides a superior signal-to-noise ratio of the bait protein relative to contaminants in purified material.     

Preparative isolation of adult human liver metallothionein isoforms

Preparative human liver metallothionein (MT) isolation is described. MT was saturated with cadmium to follow MT purification spectrophotometrically instead of by metal content and to increase the stability of the protein. A concentrated, MT-rich fraction of the liver cytosol was prepared by selective organic solvent (acetone or acetone/methanol) fractionation. Conventional gel filtration and ion-exchange chromatographies resolved two MT isoforms, MT-I and MT-II. When needed, purification of MT from other low-molecular weight proteins was further increased by gel filtration chromatography at zero ionic strength, i.e., in distilled water. Reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography of both MT isoforms resolved further peaks sharing MT properties not only from the MT-I but also from the MT-II ion-exchange isoform. The results show that it is feasible to perform a human liver MT isolation from an entire human liver with a reasonable laboratory capability.     

Application of a modified 203Hg binding assay for metallothionein

A sensitive and rapid method to estimate concentrations of functional metallothionein in small biological samples, based upon the acid stability of ²⁰³Hg binding and solubility of this protein in trichloroacetic acid is described. Sephadex G-10 minicolumns supported in centrifuge tubes afforded separation and quantitation of isotope bound metallothionein from unbound metal. Elution of metallothionein bound ²⁰³Hg was achieved by short term-low speed centrifugation that segregated chelator-ligand complex into the eluate while unbound ligand remained in the gel. A well characterized standard of pure metallothionein protein was utilized to verify the specificity and sensitivity of the modified assay. Metallothionein levels were estimated by ²⁰³Hg binding in extracts of wild type and cadmium resistant Chinese hamster ovary cells treated with maximum tolerable concentrations of CdCl₂. Similar separation methods demonstrated [³⁵S]-cysteine incorporation into induced metallothionein. Additionally, induction of metallothionein was observed after treatment with particulate CdS but not crystalline NiS particles. These results demonstrate that the modified assay system is easily applied to serial measurement of metallothionein levels in multiple small biological samples.     

ESR investigations at low temperatures of oxygen radical interaction with rat chromochelatin and metallothioneins

Radiolysis of aqueous solutions of renal and liver low molecular weight metal binding copper proteins was studied by the ESR method at low temperatures. Renal bismuth-copper chromochelatin and liver cadmium-zinc metallothionein like zinc-copper superoxide dismutase dismutate the superoxide radicals. Renal mercury-copper metallothionein traps effectively the hydroxyl radical.     

Advantages and disadvantages of voltammetric method in studying cadmium-metallothionein interactions.

A sensitive and chemical species-selective technique of differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV) was applied in studying the cadmium-metallothionein (Cd-MT) interaction. The amperometric titrations of the purified MT20 and MT10 fractions, isolated by verified biochemical procedures from the digestive gland of cadmium-exposed mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis, with Cd2+ ions were performed in the buffered sodium chloride solution of 0.59 M ionic strength, pH 7.9 and 25 degrees C. Applying the DPASV method at various cadmium to metallothionein ratio several groups of chemical species were recorded. The data on the available ligand concentration to complex cadmium ions (CL), the apparent concentration stability constants (K,) of the respective complexes and the reliability of the determined complexing parameters are discussed. In quantifying the Cd-MT interaction the interference of dithiotreitol (DTT), which is used as the reducing agent in isolation and purification of MTs, is documented.     

Identification of metaflothionein in Pleurodeles waltl

The characterization of metallothionein in the Urodele amphibian species Pleurodeles waltl was achieved. A simple and rapid method for identification of metallothionein, based on its strong affinity for cadmium (109Cd), was used. We were able to show that metallothionein is constitutively synthesized in liver, ovary and brain. The property of metallothionein to strongly bind essential (Zn, Cu) as well as toxic (Cd, Hg) metals is consistent with a dual role in cellular metabolism, ie. homeostatis and detoxification of heavy metal ions.     

Effect of the metal in the reaction between metallothionein and antimetallothionein antibody

1. An antimetallothionein antibody, raised against Cd-carrying metallothionein, was applied in Western blotting of metallothionein. 2. Treatment of the electroblotted nitrocellulose sheets with metals belonging to the periodic system transition groups Ib and IIb, or with Pb, Ni or Cr, considerably enhanced binding of anti-metallothionein. A similar effect was found when the electroblotted sheets were treated with the strong alkylator N-ethylmaleimide. 3. It seems that the binding of metal to metallothionein modifies the configuration of the antibody binding sites by the formation of metal thiolate complexes. 4. Metal treatment of the nitrocellulose sheets after electroblotting, but before application of the primary antibody, offers a convenient method for use in Western blotting to significantly potentiate the reaction between metallothionein and the antimetallothionein antibody.     

Conjugation of metallothionein to a murine monoclonal antibody

A method of conjugation of the metal-binding protein, metallothionein, to an anticarcinoma murine monoclonal antibody, B72.3, and its F(ab')2 fragment has been developed utilizing the heterobifunctional crosslinking reagent, succinimidyl 4-(N-maleimidomethyl)-cyclohexane 1-carboxylate. This crosslinking reagent is first reacted with the free amines on the immunoglobulin. After removal of unreacted crosslinker, conjugation is affected through a sulfhydryl group on metallothionein. Under the conditions employed all immunoglobulin aggregates contained metallothionein. The degree of undesired aggregation is directly proportional to the number of metallothioneins attached to the immunoglobulin. This aggregation can be controlled by the amount of crosslinker and metallothionein presented to the immunoglobulin. The immunoglobulin conjugate retains full immunoreactivity and can be readily purified from the unreacted metallothionein and high molecular weight aggregates. The metallothionein-B72.3 conjugate functions as an efficient and stable chelator of radiometals. Thus metallothionein-monoclonal antibody conjugates have potential utility in cancer diagnosis and therapy.     

柱状田头菇(茶薪菇)金属硫蛋白的分离纯化与特性研究

应用快速灌注色谱系统首次从经Cd2+诱导的柱状田头菇(茶薪菇)Agrocybecylindracea(DC.:Fr:)R.Maoire菌丝体中分离得到一种镉结合蛋白。通过SephadexG-75凝胶过滤层析,原子吸收光谱分析(AAS),巯基含量测定及紫外吸收光谱分析表明这种镉结合蛋白具有金属硫蛋白(metallothionein,MT)的理化性质:即分子量为6kDa、每分子MT含18个半胱氨酸残基并结合7个镉原子、具有镉硫金属簇的特征紫外吸收光谱,初步鉴定为茶薪菇Cd-MT。     

Expression and purification of sea raven type II antifreeze protein from Drosophila melanogaster S2 cells

We present a system for the expression and purification of recombinant sea raven type II antifreeze protein, a cysteine-rich, C-type lectin-like globular protein that has proved to be a difficult target for recombinant expression and purification. The cDNAs encoding the pro- and mature forms of the sea raven protein were cloned into a modified pMT Drosophila expression vector. These constructs produced N-terminally His(6)-tagged pro- and mature forms of the type II antifreeze protein under the control of a metallothionein promoter when transfected into Drosophila melanogaster S2 cells. Upon induction of stable cell lines the two proteins were expressed at high levels and secreted into the medium. The proteins were then purified from the cell medium in a simple and rapid protocol using immobilized metal affinity chromatography and specific protease cleavage by tobacco etch virus protease. The proteins demonstrated antifreeze activity indistinguishable from that of wild-type sea raven antifreeze protein purified from serum as illustrated by ice affinity purification, ice crystal morphology, and their ability to inhibit ice crystal growth. This expression and purification system gave yields of 95 mg/L of fully active mature sea raven type II AFP and 9.6 mg/L of the proprotein. This surpasses all previous attempts to express this protein in Escherichia coli, baculovirus-infected fall armyworm cells and Pichia pastoris and will provide sufficient protein for structural analysis.     

柱状田头菇(茶薪菇)金属硫蛋白的分离纯化与特性研究*

应用快速灌注色谱系统首次从经Cd2+诱导的柱状田头菇(茶薪菇)Agrocybecylindracea(DC.:Fr:)R.Maoire菌丝体中分离得到一种镉结合蛋白。通过SephadexG-75凝胶过滤层析,原子吸收光谱分析(AAS),巯基含量测定及紫外吸收光谱分析表明这种镉结合蛋白具有金属硫蛋白(metallothionein,MT)的理化性质:即分子量为6kDa、每分子MT含18个半胱氨酸残基并结合7个镉原子、具有镉硫金属簇的特征紫外吸收光谱,初步鉴定为茶薪菇Cd-MT。